noun
- projecting structures on the sides of a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle that provide stability or support
Usage: nautical; aviation; military
Examples
- The battleship’s sponsons housed additional gun turrets.
- The seaplane’s sponsons helped keep it stable on the water.
- Engineers designed larger sponsons to improve the vessel’s stability.
- The aircraft carrier’s sponsons extended beyond the main hull.
- Damage to the port sponson affected the ship’s balance.
- The helicopter’s sponsons contained extra fuel tanks.